PM meets Iran delegation, confirms ‘sincere determination’ to continue mediation role

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue its mediation role in a meeting with the Iranian delegation as the “Islamabad talks” began to negotiate a peace deal with the United States.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Iranian delegation was led by Chairman Bagher Ghalibaf and assisted by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi from the Pakistani side attended the meeting.

“Appreciating Iran’s commitment to the ‘Islamabad talks’, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s sincere willingness to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability,” the statement said.

Read: ‘Stepping Stone to Peace’: US VP JD Vance meets PM Shehbaz ahead of ‘Islamabad Talks’

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz met US Vice President JD Vance along with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner who landed in Islamabad as part of a US delegation to discuss the US-Iran ceasefire, dubbed ‘Islamabad Talks 2026’.

Washington and Tehran are to begin talks aimed at ending the six-week-old Iran war that has killed thousands of people across the Middle East, disrupted energy supplies, fueled inflation and slowed the global economy.

The Iranian delegation, consisting of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, also arrived in Pakistan late Friday night to participate in the negotiation talks with the United States.

The FO said the “strong delegation” was led by Ghalibaf and was received by Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Naqvi and CDF Munir. It added that Dar expressed the hope that the parties would “engage constructively” and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue helping them reach a lasting and sustainable solution to the conflict.

Pakistan is set to host what could prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements in recent history as senior leaders from the United States and Iran arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks following a devastating six-week war that has left thousands dead and pushed the global economy to the brink of recession.

Read more: FO clarifies visa-on-arrival facility for ‘Islamabad Talks’ limited to US, Iranian delegates, journalists

Islamabad has effectively been placed under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the talks. Key routes have been sealed off, security personnel heavily deployed and surveillance tightened to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries. Officials say the talks will take place in a secure, undisclosed location, away from the media spotlight.

Pakistan has emerged as an important mediator in the region. Last month, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.

To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting caught the attention of the world and was widely appreciated for Pakistan’s efforts.

Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the wider Middle East.

Dangerous truce

A fragile, conditional ceasefire is in place between the US and Iran, agreed after weeks of intense conflict. The agreement centers on a two-week pause in fighting, mainly aimed at halting major military offensives and reopening strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz – although core disagreements remain unresolved. Both Washington and Tehran have declared the truce a victory of sorts, even as they cling to competing demands for a long-term solution.

At the center of the cease-fire is a 10-point proposal by Iran that the US has described as a “useful basis” for negotiation. The plan reportedly covers topics such as non-aggression, control and operation of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions and cessation of hostilities on multiple fronts – including calls for an end to wars in related theaters. This framework is now set to lead the peace talks, with Pakistan expected to host talks aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a more durable peace.